‘Magnificent’ player should have been absolutely desperate join West Ham this summer, says his former coach

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Former West Ham United coach Stuart Pearce still cannot believe Jesse Lingard moved to Nottingham Forest instead this summer.

Lingard spent half of the 2020/21 season on loan at the London Stadium, and the Hammers tried to sign him in the two subsequent summers.

He stayed at Manchester United last term and when he left as a free agent, he joined Forest on a one-year contract.

On TalkSPORT, Pearce – despite being a Forest legend – said he does not understand why Lingard did not join West Ham.

Pearce on Lingard

Pearce said: “The team have not won for a number of games and Jesse’s sort of found himself on the bench.

“Going back to his time at West Ham, I’ve got to say, he came through the door at our place for six months and was magnificent.

“He gave us a different dimension, he could carry the ball and he had a brilliant time with us. You make your choice to where you move and where you don’t but I’m still astounded.

“If it was me I’d have been desperate to get back and work with Moyes.”

Since Lingard’s loan at West Ham ended, it has been baffling that he was not moving heaven and earth to get back to the club where he reignited his career.

As Pearce said, he has made his decision now and faces a relegation fight with Forest, while it would be a huge surprise if he went to the World Cup.

On top of that, he has been a substitute for two of Forest’s last three matches, and has no goals or assists so fars this season.